Adelphia Q&A

Adelphia Bible School FAQ

Updated 8/20/2014

Overview

Adelphia Bible School is a one-year education experience that uniquely equips students to make the most of their life and faith. Combining practical biblical instruction, an inspiring community, and real-life opportunities to put faith into action, the Adelphia experience will prepare students for a lifetime of success in any endeavor.

Adelphia is located 35 minutes from Seattle, on 50 acres of picturesque lakefront property at Lake Retreat Camp and Conference Center in Ravensdale, Washington. Adelphia Bible School and Lake Retreat Camp operate under the umbrella of Converge Northwest a division of Converge Worldwide.

Planning & Applying For Adelphia

Who should attend Adelphia?

Any student, 18 years of age or older, who would benefit from a Bible-centered curriculum, a faith-filled community, and a mission-oriented mindset.

Are there age limitations to attend?

An applicant must be 18 by the day school begins to be eligible to attend. Those who will not reach their 18th birthday by the 1st day of school may still attend, by parental waiver. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis. There is no age limit, however, the majority of students are young adults between 18 & 26

Are there prerequisites to attend?

Students must profess Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and be pursuing a life that is honoring to Christ. Students must not be in opposition to our Statement of Faith. Although we have an affiliation with Converge Northwest, no church or denominational affiliation is required for admission. Applicants with a criminal background or who have a history of sexual misconduct will not be admitted to the school due to our close proximity to Lake Retreat Youth Camp and other students.

Do I need a high school diploma or GED to attend Adelphia?

HS graduation or GED is strongly recommended. Students who haven’t achieved high school grad equivalency but desire admission are encouraged to discuss their situation with the admissions team.

Are home educated students accepted at Adelphia?

We are very happy to have home educated students attend Adelphia. Students must be 18 by the day school begins.

What is the application deadline?

Adelphia limits the class to 30 students per year, so applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible. If space is available, applications are accepted up to the start of a term.

How do I apply?

Applications are available online at www.adelphiaschool.com. Applications may be submitted online or printed directly off of the website and mailed to the school. Applications must be submitted with a non-refundable $35 application fee. Student applications are kept strictly confidential. A health form, proof of age (must be 18 at the date of the first class) and proof of insurance is also required, along with two character references.

When will I hear whether I’ve been accepted?

After the registrar has received your completed application materials, you will be contacted regarding your acceptance into Adelphia. We evaluate each application for signs that the applicant meets the admission requirements, shows a readiness to attend and will both benefit from and find success in our program. You should receive a letter within 3 weeks of application. Once accepted, a non-refundable deposit of $500 will reserve your place within our students body. This deposit is applied toward your first term tuition.

Is there a waiting list?

Occasionally, there may be a waiting list as our class is limited to 30 students. Those accepted after the class is full will be placed on a waiting list in the order of their acceptance. Should an opening occur, the next person on the waiting list would be given opportunity to pay the deposit and secure that spot.

Can I attend just one term at Adelphia?

Students are encouraged to apply for and complete the entire school year. The Adelphia year is made up of three 8-week terms. Students may be accepted for less than a full year if space is available.

Financing, Budgeting & Expenses

What does it cost to attend Adelphia?
Cost of tuition including room and board is $9,990. Federal or state financial aid is not available. There are private scholarships available. You must be an accepted student to apply for scholarships.

When is tuition due?

Money for tuition, room and board, and fees is due on the first day of each term. For the 2014-2015 school year, these dates are: October 5, 2014, January 5, 2015 & March 9, 2015.

Do you have payment plans?

Students pay on a term-by-term basis. We offer a discount for paying tuition in full and we have a 12 month payment plan.

What forms of payment are accepted?

In addition to cash and check, we accept Visa, Master Card, American Express & Discover credit and debit cards.

How much spending money should I plan on bringing?

We recommend $150 per term for spending money. Meals are included, however students may wish to purchase snacks, and espresso in the college lounge. Adelphia apparel, mugs, cups, etc. are available for purchase.

Are there any additional expenses/fees that I should plan for?

Students may want to purchase additional optional reading materials that are suggested by certain teachers. Required reading materials are included in tuition.

Do you have financial aid or scholarships?

Federal or state financial aid is not available. We encourage you to seek support from your local church, along with friends and family, presenting the need and desire to attend Adelphia Bible School, and asking them to join you in prayer. It is exciting to see how the Lord provides for each student.

Students serious about attending Adelphia will be helped through the process of writing support letters and obtaining an on-campus job or employment over breaks. Those interested in this service should contact the Adelphia office.

Since we are a tax-exempt, non-profit organization, those who do not claim the student on their income tax as a dependent can donate on the student’s behalf and receive a tax-deductible receipt. Family members, friends, and even churches can donate. Please contact your tax advisor.

Please note: We do NOT issue 1098T forms annually.

Can I get a loan to help pay for tuition?

While state and federal student loans are not available to our students, there are private lenders who will make personal loans. Christian Community Credit Union is one of those lenders. They know the value of our program and want to work with our students:

Christian Community Credit Union* has a very attractive personal loan that can be used to help finance you educational investment. For our students who open a checking account with them they offer a 2% reduction in their already competitive interest rate.

*Christian Community Credit Union (CCCU) is not affiliated with either Adelphia Bible School or Lake Retreat Camp. CCCU is listed as an example of a lender who will consider lending to Adelphia students.

Do you have a campus work program?

Students may have opportunity to work for Lake Retreat Camp and Conference Center, serving guest groups on the weekends. Students must apply for these jobs and space is limited. Jobs are listed on the Adelphia website as they become available.

Can students have off-campus jobs?

The Adelphia program is quite structured during the week. Students may work offsite or participate in internship or apprenticeship programs through the local church or other para-church organizations on the weekends.

Do you provide insurance for students?

Students at Adelphia are required to provide their own medical insurance.

Student Life At Adelphia

What type of classwork can I expect?

Students attend class for 18 hours a week. Monday’s class is taught by Resident teachers. Guest teachers teach on Tuesday – Friday. We recognize that students learn and process concepts at different speeds. Most students can expect to complete course reading for the week in 1-2 hours and course projects for the week in 1-2 hours. So that’s 2-4 hours of “homework” each week.

Guest teachers (Tuesday – Friday) will assign minimal homework and students will complete a reflection paper at the end of the week.

What does a typical day at Adelphia look like?

Sample Daily Schedule:(Actual schedule will vary day to day)

Monday – Friday

8:00 am

Devotion & Breakfast

9:00 am

Chapel & Morning Bible Class 3 1/2 hour block with short breaks

12:30 pm

Lunch

1:00 pm

Class, reflection, study time, work, internships & mentorships

6:00 pm

Dinner

7:00 pm

Student Life – Various Activities and Thursday night dorm & family meetings

How does the schedule vary from day to day?

Students attend chapel daily and class in the mornings from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Afternoon and evenings are generally free for reflections, study, internships, work, and community life. On Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday afternoons, students attend class from 1-2 p.m. On Thursday evening, students participate in Dorm Meetings and Family Groups. Electives are held on Monday evening.

We offer weekly and monthly on & off campus student life activities with an emphasis on Christ, Community and Culture. Anything from prayer and worship events, to local sports games, movie/game nights and community outreach events. Some activities are planned/put on by our Student Life staff (Deans and RA’s), and others are even planned/put on by the Adelphia students themselves!

Students also participate in Cultural Engagement Electives (Outreach) in our local community.

What is the faculty like at Adelphia?

Our teaching staff includes Christian pastors, professors, and professionals, representing a wide span of experience and expertise in a variety of ministry, academic, and workplace settings. Students will benefit from a breadth of knowledge and a variety of teaching styles.

What are the rules & discipline like at Adelphia?

We follow Paul’s teachings to the Corinthians, that we may be free in Christ but err on the side of grace in order to keep others from stumbling. Students who experience a moral failure, while at school, are subject to the correction and discipline of the Student Council and the leadership.

Specific discipline guidelines are provided for students in the school handbook.

Is there a dress code at Adelphia?

Students are expected to maintain a clean and neat appearance. Moderation and modesty are required at all times regardless of prevailing fashions.

Are there mission trip opportunities at Adelphia?

Yes! Adelphia students participate in a culminating study aboard experience at the end of the spring term. Students also have local mission and cultural engagement opportunities every week throughout the year.

Meals, Accommodations & Adelphia Facilities

What are the meals like at Adelphia?

All meals are included in the tuition. Our food service department attempts to plan and prepare tasty, balanced and nutritious meals. Coffee and vending machine snacks are available in the Student Lounge from early morning to late night. Espresso and other snacks such as chips, candy, and smoothies are available for a fee.

Do you make special accommodations for students with special dietary needs?

Depending on the extent of the dietary requirements, we may be able to accommodate the student’s needs. If the dietary need is complex, efforts will be made to provide pantry, refrigerator and microwave space for the student to prepare his or her own food.

What are student accommodations like?

All housing is on-site in a dorm setting. Most rooms have beautiful lake views. Students will be assigned to rooms with 2 to 4 roommates. All rooms have shared bathrooms and showers. Both the men’s and the women’s dorms have a large lounge area with inside access from the rooms. Rooms are furnished with a bed and wardrobe with shelves and hanging space. Students may stay in dorm rooms during the school year, as long as they are a student in good standing. Students must vacate rooms by 5pm prior to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Breaks. The dorms are closed during these times. Students must vacate their dorm the day following the last day of classes of the spring term, prior to the study aboard experience.

What about bedding & linens?

Students must supply their own twin size sheets, blankets, comforter, pillow and towels.

Are there laundry facilities at Adelphia?

There are laundry facilities in both the women’s and men’s dorms, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

How much storage space do students have?

Storage space is limited. Students will be provided with a wardrobe with shelves and hanging space.

Do students have Internet access?

Wireless Internet access is available for student use in the Fireside Cafe.

Do students need a computer at Adelphia?

Students may bring personal laptops.

Where is Adelphia located? What are the facilities like?

Adelphia Bible School is located on the Lake Retreat Camp & Conference Center campus in Ravensdale, Washington, east of Kent near Covington. The Adelphia campus is located on 50 acres with 900+ feet of picturesque lakefront property. Students will find the facilities comfortable and inviting. Lake Retreat Camp & Conference Center was established in 1946 by Converge Northwest (formerly Columbia Baptist Conference). For more information about Lake Retreat Camp & Conference Center, visit www.lakeretreat.org. Phone: 425.432.4293. For more information about Converge Northwest, visit: www.convergenw.org.

Can Adelphia students live off-campus while attending Bible School?

To receive the full benefits of the year at Adelphia, single students are required to live on campus. At this time, we do not have the facilities to accommodate married students on campus. Married students should contact the registrar. Consideration will be given on a case by case basis. Please contact the Registrar for more information.

Do you have married student housing?

Married student housing may be available. Consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Registrar for more information.

Recreation & Extra Curricular Activities

Where do students go to church while attending Adelphia?

Students are encouraged to attend and worship in a local church while attending Adelphia. More information on local church options, locations, etc. will be provided at orientation.

Are students involved in local outreach?

Yes. Students benefit from regular ministry participation in by receiving both class credit and experiencing God’s work in their heart and the lives of others.

Is there free-time at Adelphia?

At Adelphia Bible School we emphasize community. We encourage students to spend time together lounging, eating, and playing together. Time when students are not in class is spent in personal study and recreational opportunities.

What are weekends at Adelphia like?

Students have weekends free from class. Students are free to leave campus during the weekend however students are welcome to stay on campus. Meals are available throughout the weekend.

What student life activities do you offer?

We offer weekly and monthly on & off campus student life activities with an emphasis on Christ, Community and Culture. Anything from prayer and worship events, to local sports games, movie/game nights and community outreach events. Some activities are planned/put on by our Student Life staff (Deans and RA’s), and others are even planned/put on by the Adelphia students themselves!

What recreational opportunities are available?

Adelphia Bible School campus is located on 900+ feet of picturesque lakefront property. We are just 35 minutes from Seattle and 45 minutes from two major ski resorts. Students may ski, snowboard, canoe, fish, visit Pike Place Market or participate in an inner city ministry, all less than an hour away.

What sports are available? Do you have a gym?

Adelphia provides on-site recreation equipment that includes a covered recreation area, paintball, pickle ball, volleyball, indoor swimming and lake swimming. We do not have an on-campus gym, but local gyms may be an option for students.

Can Adelphia students leave the campus overnight?

Students may leave campus overnight, for non-scheduled school events, but they must sign out prior to their departure. Students are expected to be on campus during all class and school related functions.

Do students have daily duties or chores at Adelphia?

Students are required to keep their room and common areas clean. All students will be assigned a daily duty to help the community of Adelphia run efficiently.

Can students stay at Adelphia during school breaks?

The dorms are closed during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Breaks. Please note: Students must vacate their rooms the day following the last day of class, spring term. Please note: Students will check out of their rooms, prior to their culminating study aboard experience at the end of Spring Term.

Can students bring vehicles to Adelphia?

Yes, students may have vehicles at Adelphia, providing space is available. Student vehicles must be registered with the school office. The school is approximately 4 miles from shopping and banking.

Is there shopping close to the Adelphia campus?

There is shopping 4 miles from Lake Retreat Camp & Conference Center. Additionally, students will find coffee, pharmacy and banking in this area. Shopping is available in Maple Valley, Covington, Issaquah and Enumclaw, all a 20-30 minute drive from Lake Retreat. The closest shopping mall is in Auburn, a 30-minute drive.

How far is it to the nearest medical facility / pharmacy?

An urgent care facility and pharmacy are located approximately 4 miles from the Adelphia campus. Major medical care is available within a 20-30 minute drive. For emergencies, Lake Retreat receives excellent 911 service.

Do cell phones work at Lake Retreat? Do students need one?

There is limited cell phone coverage at the Adelphia campus, dependent upon the mobile service provider. Verizon & AT&T provide good coverage.